Can prepreg parts be cured again?


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valerio.polenta
valerio.polenta
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Hello,

I'm building some pregreg components as part of a university project. For brevity, I will skip details, I just tell you that so far I've built some "pipes" with a kind of D-section (and a taper angle to facilitate mould extraction). The picture shows the mould, the prepreg shapes and the final part.

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/f71904e5-dc01-4790-a690-d3af.png


Now, what I want to do is to attach 2 of those pipes together by placing them adjacent along the flat part and adding an outer layer of prepreg, like in this sketch:

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/1bc8779f-a185-4ff3-a3f1-ed6a.jpg


My question is: can the two inner pipes go into the oven again? They already underwent a cycle of 4 hours ( 1hr @ 50'C, 1hr @ 60'C, 1hr @ 70'C, 1hr @ 120'C). I'm using Easy-Preg 240g 3K Surfacing Prepreg and Vari-Preg 400g 12K.Backing Ply. I wonder if the mechanical properties deteriorate after a second cycle like that.

Thanks,
Valerio
Matthieu Libeert
Matthieu Libeert
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by seeing your curing cycle they will probably soften a bit when you put them back into the oven. 
Never tried it...sure some other on here might be able to give you some better advice.
best thing would be to put a testpiece back in the oven for a few hours at 120°C and put them out with some gloves and try to squeeze them to see...

Matthieu Libeert
Founder MAT2 Composites X Sports
website:
www.mat2composites.com




f1rob
f1rob
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Give the original parts a higher post cure once de moulded to get a higher tg an you should be ok on second cure

you want to be really sure she n you do second cure tube bag through both pipes when you cure
fgayford
fgayford
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I once had left out two layers of prepreg in an autoclaved piece. I ground the surface with 36 grit placed two layers of prepreg on it and then put it back in the autoclave for a cure. It became one with no issues.
Fred 
GO

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